Pallone Criticizes Trump Pick of Price for Health Secretary

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Long Branch), ranking member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, this morning expressed strong reservations ab out President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice of House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA) to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

“Based on the devastating legislative proposals Congressman Price has put forward as Budget Committee Chairman, I’m deeply concerned about the direction that he would take the Department of Health and Human Services as its Secretary,” said Pallone, a key author of the Affordable Healthcare Act. “Under Price’s leadership the Budget Committee has proposed stripping health insurance away from millions of middle class Americans by repealing the Affordable Care Act, cutting $2 trillion from Medicaid that provides access to health care for our most vulnerable, and just this month he touted a plan to privatize Medicare for America’s seniors. These are not the types of proposals a Secretary of Health and Human Services should be advocating.

“While I am hopeful that Chairman Price will rethink his dangerous proposals if he is confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services, I am prepared to fight any effort to take away American’s access to health care,” the congressman added.